Thomas Popular Garden Concert: 40th
Event Information
Venue(s):
Terrace Garden
Proprietor / Lessee:
7th Ave. between 58th and 59th Sts. Central Park Garden
Conductor(s):
Theodore Thomas [see also Thomas Orchestra]
Price: $.25
Event Type:
Orchestral
Performance Forces:
Instrumental
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
8 November 2017
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
21 Jul 1866, 8:00 PMPerformers and/or Works Performed
Citations
Announces this Thomas popular series at Terrace Garden as well as another popular series at Paul Falk's Löwen Park.
“Another of these excellent concerts took place last evening. They are a step in the way of supplying a great need in New York—that is, music for the people at a cheap rate. It has been a crying want in this city for many years, and is as yet far from being satisfied. Musical entertainments, it is true, have been established with that object in view, but have failed to satisfy the popular demand, for the simple reason that they were too great a drain on the powers of the poor. One of the best means of refining a people is to cultivate a higher taste for good music. Mr. Thomas might still improve on the good effect of his entertainments by giving a programme more devoted to classical music. Operas, polkas, fantasias, &c., are in plentiful array, but the bill is searched vainly to find any symphonies. They are sought after and would be appreciated if given in good style.
The selections last night were excellent in their way. The overture to Masaniello was well performed. The stringed instruments sounded finely and were played with exactness. The finale to ‘Attila’ might have been much improved upon in the execution; carelessness marked its performance throughout. A fantasia, ‘Traumbilder,’ was very pretty, which is the best that can be said of it. The fact is, nothing else is to be heard now at every corner on every street organ. The orchestra rendered the piece very well. The real gems of the evening, however, were the overture to Egmont, by Beethoven, and a grand selection from the ‘Jewess’ by Halevy. The players did full justice to both, and exerted themselves particularly in Egmont. The Jewess is known to everybody, and it is only necessary to say that the only fault to be found is the large amount of brass used. This was the fault of Halevy, and he must be pardoned when we remember that but for this he was almost perfection.”